Pill counting device



June 12, 1962 A. B. VAN HANDEL PILL COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1959 Ambrase B; Van Handel 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,038,642 Patented June 12, 1962 3,038,642 PILL COUNTING DEVICE Ambrose B. Van Handel, Northridge, Calif. (567 S. Brand Blvd, San Fernando, Calif.) Filed Dec. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 861,409 4 Claims. (11]. 222129) The present invention generally relates to a counting device and more particularly to a device for counting pills or capsules.

Pills and capsules are quite often supplied in bulk quant1ty in a relatively large container. However, in dispenslng such pills or capsules, a predetermined number of such pills or capsules are usually counted out and deposited into the prescription container. Various methods have been employed for counting such pills or capsules. The simplest and probably most common method of counting pills or capsules hereinafter called tablets is the use of the hand as a counting tray after which the counted tablets are transferred to the prescription container. This, of course, is somewhat objectionable in view of the possibility of contamination of the tablets with germs and is otherwise distasteful to the person who will consume the tablets.

Another method of counting tablets is to employ a spatula to count the tablets and then the tablets are slid over into a container such as is disclosed in prior Patent No. 2,530,009. This requires that the tablets be poured from the bulk container onto the counting device which usually requires a table or the like to rest upon and then using a spatula to separate the tablets as they are counted from the bulk number and moving the counted tablets to a depressed receptacle. It is then necessary to close the cover and pour excess tablets back to the bulk container and then dispense the tablets from the counting device into the prescription container. It will readily be seen that this requires a number of operations all of which are time-consuming and generally ineffective in operation.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a hand-operated pill, capsule or tablet counting device which follows the natural contour of the hand and functions with the natural opening and closing of the hand which permits the most natural method of tablet counting, that is hand counting, while maintaining the tablets in the same sterile state in which the same left the laboratory.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pill counting device of the above character which includes in its construction two halves connected by hinges having a hollow interior and a relatively shallow open tray with both the interior and the tray having a tapered opening or funnel for guiding the tablets into the prescription container or back into the bulk container in the event an excess number of tablets are removed from the bulk container to the depressed counting area or open tray.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a pill counting device which is extremely inexpensive to manufacture in that it may be constructed of molded plastic or the like, effective in operation, easy to use, simple, long lasting and otherwise well adapted for its particular purpose.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pill counting device of the present invention being employed for pouring pills from the hollow interior shell into a prescription container;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the counting device illustrating the structural features of the hollow shell and the counting tray or area in the upper end thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the counting device; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the sections of the counting device open.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the pill counting device of the present invention which generally is in the form of a transparent plastic container having a size and shape which permit it to be grasped by one hand 12 and which includes two halves generally designated by numerals 14 and 16 which are connected by hinges 18 at the bottom edge thereof whereby the halves 14 and 16 may swing outwardly from a closed position as illustrated in FIG- URE 3 to an open position as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Each half 14 and 16 is substantially identical except that the halves face each other. The half 14 includes an elongated upwardly curved bottom wall portion 20 which extends outwardly into a substantially semi-cylindrical portion 22 which then extends inwardly and curves downwardly slightly in a top portion 24. One end of the area defined by the walls 20, 22 and 24 curves inwardly and defines an end wall portion 26. The top wall 24 also curves upwardly at each end portion as indicated by numeral 2S and joins with the end wall portion 2-6 at one end thereof. The other end of the half 14 is provided with an extension 30 on the bottom wall portion 20 and a partial downwardly and inwardly curved end wall portion 3-2 which terminates in a vertical end edge 34 that meets with and becomes a part of an upwardly curved end edge 36 'which defines part of the transition area between the bottom wall 20 and the semi-cylindrical wall portion 22.

The two halves 14 and 16 may be said to form a hollow shell with the area defined by the extension 30, and the end edges 34 and 36 forming a funnel-shaped spout for discharge of pills, capsules, tablets or the like designated by numeral 3-8 for ease of pouring such articles into a prescription container 40 which is conveniently held in the other hand 42..

The top wall 24 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 44 spaced outwardly from the inner edge of the top wall 24 and one end of the flange 44 is curved inwardly and forms an end wall 48 while the other end is extended longitudinally outwardly and curved inwardly in a concave manner as indicated by numeral 50 whereby the two portions 50 cooperate to form a pouring spout. The flanges 44, 48 and portions 50 as well as the upper surface of the top walls 24 cooperate to form a tray into which the pills may be poured from a bulk container. Also, the upper edges of the flanges 44 are contoured or scalloped as indicated by numeral 52 for ease of gripping of the counting device. Thus, this upper structure may be considered as a counting table or counting tray surrounded by the upstanding flange or rim.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings illustrates the device as it would be held in the hand and it is pointed out that the fingers fall naturally in place in the scalloped edge 52 thus facilitating opening and closing of the counter. The device can be held in the hand as it is shown in FIGURE 1 or just the reverse so that the pour-out spout is facing in the direction of the thumb whichever position is most convenient for the operator.

In using the device, the tablets are poured onto the counting table or tray from the bulk container while the counter is held closed until the capsules, pills or tablets are counted. After the tablets are counted, the hand relaxes and the counter opens allowing the tablets to drop inside the counter. This, of course, is accomplished after any excess tablets are separated from the desired number and poured back into the stock bottle by virtue of the pouring spout formed by portions 50 and then the tablets 38 are dispensed into the prescription container 40 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The device may be constructed of any suitable material but preferably of transparent plastic or the like which may be easily maintained in a sterile condition and which will enable observation of the pills, capsules, tablets or the like during the entire operation. This device permits better control of the number of tablets dispensed from the bulk container into the counting device and in the event an excess number of tablets are removed from the bulk container to the counting tray or area, they can be readily poured back into the bulk container by tipping the counting device in a manner to permit the excess capsules to pour out of the pouring spout formed by portions 50. The construction of the device from plastic material or the like enables it to be manufactured rather inexpensively and the surface of the plastic is such that various types of pills, tablets and capsules will readily slide on the surface Without restriction.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pill counting device comprising a hollow body including two halves of identical construction, connected at the lower edges of the halves by means of hinges for movement of the halves from a position with the edges abutting to a position with the adjacent edges diverging upwardly, each half including a bottom wall, a top wall and one end wall with the other end being provided with an opening for providing a discharge spout for pouring tablets into a container from the hollow interior of the shell, said top wall defining a counting area, an upstanding flange on each half of the shell with each flange having an inwardly extending end wall and the other end of the flange forming a pouring spout from the counting area back into a bulk container, thereby enabling a plurality of tablets to be disposed on the top surface of the top wall and confined by the flanges with the excess tablets being readily poured back into the bulk container and with the counted tablets being discharged downwardly into the interior of the shell by opening the halves to their diverging relation after which the halves may be returned to a closed position and the tablets poured into a container.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said upstanding flange is provided with a scalloped edge for facilitating gripping of the device by the fingers.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shell is constructed of transparent plastic material to enable observation of the tablets at all times.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said halves has a rounded outer wall portion with the shell formed by the halves being elongated and ovalshaped and generally conforming to the inner surface of a gripping hand when the device is being held thereby facilitating proper use of the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Mar. 15, 1955 

